40 Pa. Stat. § 1303.514

Current through Pa Acts 2024-53, 2024-56 through 2024-92
Section 1303.514 - Interbranch Commission on Venue
(a) Declaration of policy.--The General Assembly further recognizes that recent changes in the health care delivery system have necessitated a revamping of the corporate structure for various medical facilities and hospitals across this Commonwealth. This has unduly expanded the reach and scope of existing venue rules. Training of new physicians in many geographic regions has also been severely restricted by the resultant expansion of venue applicability rules. These physicians and health care institutions are essential to maintaining the high quality of health care that our citizens have come to expect.
(b) Establishment of Interbranch Commission on Venue.--The Interbranch Commission on Venue for actions relating to medical professional liability is established as follows:
(1) The commission shall consist of the following members:
(i) The Chief Justice of the Supreme Court or a designee of the Chief Justice.
(ii) The chairperson of the Civil Procedural Rules Committee, who shall serve as the chairperson of the commission.
(iii) A judge of a court of common pleas appointed by the Chief Justice.
(iv) The Attorney General or a designee of the Attorney General.
(v) The General Counsel.
(vi) Two attorneys at law appointed by the Governor.
(vii) Four individuals, one each appointed by the:
(A) President pro tempore of the Senate;
(B) Minority Leader of the Senate;
(C) Speaker of the House of Representatives; and
(D) Minority Leader of the House of Representatives.
(2) The commission has the following functions:
(i) To review and analyze the issue of venue as it relates to medical professional liability actions filed in this Commonwealth.
(ii) To report, by September 1, 2002, to the General Assembly and the Supreme Court on the results of the review and analysis. The report shall include recommendations for such legislative action or the promulgation of rules of court on the issue of venue as the commission shall determine to be appropriate.
(3) The commission shall expire September 1, 2002.

40 P.S. § 1303.514

2002, March 20, P.L. 154, No. 13, § 514, imd. effective.